Coin-controlled mechanism.



J. E. ALLISON.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1911.

1,8l,562. Patented Dec. 16,1913.

F/G. Z.

JAMES E. ALLISON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO IHOYT V. BRIGHT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Com-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. is, an.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES. E. Amnsou, a citizen of. the United states, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Controlled Mechanlsms, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention bein herein explained and the best mode in wh1c I have contemplated applying that prlnclple, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates in general to coin controlled mechanism and its particular object is the provision of a mechanism which will allow movement of a given member only upon the insertion of a coin of determined size in the mechanism and which will securely lock that member against movement under any other condition.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved mechanism; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 0-0 in Fig. 1, certain parts being removed, the line AA in Fig. 2 indicating the section of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line BB in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detailed section on the line DD in Fig. 1.

My mechanism may be housed in any suitable manner, but I have illustrated it as installed in housing 1 which will preferably contain separate spaces for the reception of the mechanism and for the reception of coins passed through the mechanism respectively. w

The mechanism proper comprises a rotatable shaft 3 journaledin a suitable frame and it is the movement of shaft 3 which is primarily to be controlled, the shaft 3 carrying any desired member whose movement is to be ultimately controlled. A disk 4 is secured on shaft 3 and is provided with a plurality of substantially radial teeth 5 which may be called forwardly facing teeth. The disk 4 is also provided with a peripheral groove 6 adjacent to each tooth 5, which may be conveniently formed by securing a plate 7 between two side plates, the side plates and the plate 7 collectively forming the disk. A pivotally mounted pawl 8 is so positioned as to engage one of the teeth 5 on the disk 4 upon forward rotation of theshaft and a spring 9 normally retains the pawl 8 in such position that it is operative to engage a tooth 5. A chute 10 opening exteriorly of the housing 1 extends substantially to the periphery of disk 4 and a dog 11 prevents a coin 26 which may be inserted through the chute from falling backwardly out of the groove 6. A convenient device for centering the chute 10 with relation to the groove 6, is to provide a cross bar 12 secured to the respective sides of the housing 1 and to have ears 13 carried by'bar 12 straddle the chute 10. In each of the ears 13 is a screw 14 and obviously by extending or retracting'the screws 14 the chute 10 may be accurately centered. A chute 15 is positioned to receive a coin 26 after it has passed through the mechanism and to convey the coin to the partitioned space in the lower part of the housing 1. A disk 16 is also secured on shaft 3 and is provided with a pluraltiy of rearwardly facing teeth 17. A pivoted pawl 18 is positioned to engage successive teeth 17 and a spring 19 normally retains the pawl 18 in engagement with the teeth 17. Still another disk 20 is secured on shaft 3 and is formed with substantially radial forwardly facing teeth 21. A pivoted lever 22 is normally in contact with one of the teeth 21 and a spring 23 pulls the lever 22 against the tooth 21.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows In describing the operation it may be assumed that the mechanism is to be used to allow a turn-stile to make successive partial revolutions upon the insertion of successive coins in the mechanism. To adapt the mechanism for this use a star wheel 24 w'illbe secured to shaft 3 outside of the housing 1 and the arms of the turn-stile will successively engage teeth 25 of the star Wheel. Normally the turn-stile can be r0- tated but slightly because it is in engagement with star wheel 24 which is locked againstv any except slight rotation by pawl 8 which will engage with one of the teeth 5 on disk 4. Neither can the star wheel be rotated in a reverse direction because the pawl 18 is in engagement with one of the teeth 17 on disk 16. Moreover thevshaft will be maintained normally in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 by means of the lever 22 which ispressing against one the full 1111600111 in Fig. 1. On rotation of the shaft the coin is pushed backward until it reaches the end of the roove but on fur ther rotation the coin Wlll raise the pawl 8 so that the tooth 5 may pass beneath it and therefore the turn-stile may be rotated. After the tooth 5 has passed the end of pawl 8, the pawl 18 will engage the succeeding tooth ll so that the shaft and therefore the turn-stile cannot be reversely rotated. When the turn-stile and hence the shaft have been rotated the previously determined portion of a revolution, the pawl 8 engages the succeeding tooth 5 and prohibits further forward rotation of the shaft and turn-stile. The mechanism is now in its normal position a ain.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

aoeaeea groove adjacent each tooth designed to re-:

ceive a coinv adapted, on rotation of said shaft, to move said pawl from such position; a spring tending to retain said pawl in such osition; a second disk secured to said sha t and provided with rearwardly facing substantially radial teeth; a second pawl normally-in engagement with one of the teeth of said second disk; a spring tending to retain said second pawl 1n such engagement; a third disk' secured to said shaft and provided with forwardly facing substantially radial teeth; a lever contactin with the face of one of the teeth of said third disk; and a spring tending to continuously press said lever against the successive teeth upon rotation of said shaft.

Signed by me this 23rd day of January, 1911.

JAMES E. ALLISON? 

